Kentucky Baseball drops series to Missouri; falls 10-6 in rubber match

An eight-run third inning doomed Kentucky Baseball (21-15, 5-10 SEC) on Saturday in its rubber match against Missouri (21-12, 5-10 SEC), as the Tigers swiped the series with a 10-6 win.

The loss makes three SEC series losses in a row for the ‘Cats, who now face an even tougher climb to cracking the NCAA Tournament field of 64.

Kentucky mounted a six-run advantage after two innings, but starting pitcher Tyler Bosma imploded in the third frame, surrendering the lead.

Bats boom early, falter late

The Wildcats doubled their hit total from game two, collecting 10 knocks on Saturday afternoon. Seven hitters added one or more hit, with Daniel Harris IV, Reuben Church and Kirk Liebert each notching a pair.

Third baseman Chase Estep drove in Hunter Jump on an RBI single to right field in the first inning to give UK the early lead. It would quickly grow as the ‘Cats added five more runs in the top half of the second.

After a Liebert single and shortstop Ryan Ritter reaching first after being hit by a pitch, Alonzo Rubalcaba drilled his first hit of the series, a single to center field. Jump followed suit right after, lining home Ritter with a base knock of his own. Harris kept the hit parade going with a single, loading the bases for Jacob Plastiak.

The first baseman grounded out to first, scoring another run. Church would cap off the inning with a double to left field, plating Jump and Harris.

Missouri starter Austin Marozas completed the third inning, but would be pulled after. He struck out two batters while walking one to go along with his six earned runs.

Reliever Carter Rustad was lockdown in relief for the Tigers, as he threw 4.2 innings of run-free baseball. The 6-foot-4 righty allowed just three hits, striking out five and walking two ‘Cats. After the second-inning bombarding, Kentucky didn’t record a hit until the seventh.

With two outs, Church, Adam Fogel and Liebert each roped singles, loading the bases. Ritter would step up to the dish with an opportunity to tie the game, but he was unable to do so, striking out on four pitches.

Lefty Ian Lohse shut the door for the final 1.1 innings, not allowing a UK hit.

Bosma’s blowup proves costly

After allowing just one hit through two innings, Bosma was knocked around Taylor Stadium in the bottom of the third, giving up four singles, a walk and a hit batsman. He would be pulled in the third without recording an out, his shortest outing of the season.

Tyler Guilfoil, one of head coach Nick Mingione’s few surefire relievers, took over for Bosma, but couldn’t immediately stop the bleeding. A walk, another hit batter and two more hits finished off the eight-run inning for the Tigers, giving them a two-run cushion through three innings.

Guilfoil settled in nicely, giving up just one more hit in the remainder of his outing. In his four innings of work, the junior Lexington native allowed just the pair of runs, striking out six of the 16 batters he faced.

The Tigers tacked on a pair of runs in the seventh on Jackson Nove and Zack Lee. After Nove allowed a leadoff walk and single, Lee was unable to work out of the jam. With two outs, Mizzou center fielder Ty Wilmsmeyer rolled a grounder to third, but Estep was unable to come up with it, allowing a run to cross home. The next batter would also single, driving in the 10th and final Missouri run.

Tough sledding ahead for Kentucky

Kentucky needed a series win over the Tigers. The ‘Cats now face a grueling four-game week, including a road game on Tuesday night at No. 9 Louisville, then a three-game set at home against Vanderbilt, which currently sits just outside the top 25.

A 5-10 record in SEC play is not what Mingione was hoping for as April treks along. The Wildcats have 19 games left in the regular season, and 10 of them will come against currently ranked opponents.

The rivalry game against the Cardinals is set for Tuesday, April 19, with first pitch slated for 5 p.m. EST inside Cardinal Stadium.